Harleys don't suck
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
Been riding, building,hot rodding,racing,and even just sitting gauking at Harleys since the early 60's.In all those years and Harleys as old as 1928 never recall very few problems.It is and always will be about getting to know your ride and maintainance.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 671
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
Once I got rid of the Harley stock pipes and set my bikes up the way I like. I have yet to have any problems with any of them. But people are going to buy and ride what they want. Forever Harley, Harley forever.....
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 20,823
Likes: 1,506
From: Nowhere
I am not a technophobe by any stretch of the imagination, but alternatives to the Harley seem like they have way too many moving parts that could fail. It is a bit of a dissonance I suppose, because bikes like the Goldwing have excellent reputations. Still, I prefer the blending of old and new technology in my EGC. In fact, I would be happier if my throttle actually had a throttle cable, but so far... no complaints from the fly by wire.
I plan on keeping this bike for at least one more year at which time it should have pretty close to 60k miles on it. I think that is pretty impressive for a motorcycle, though the tech at the dealer seems to think that 100k miles is very reasonable to expect. I dunno, but I know this... every mile I ride is way better than any mile trapped behind glass and steel.
This is my first Harley, so I have no baseline for comparison as far as reliability goes, but so far... this bike is pretty darn bullet proof, which is very important to me.
I plan on keeping this bike for at least one more year at which time it should have pretty close to 60k miles on it. I think that is pretty impressive for a motorcycle, though the tech at the dealer seems to think that 100k miles is very reasonable to expect. I dunno, but I know this... every mile I ride is way better than any mile trapped behind glass and steel.
This is my first Harley, so I have no baseline for comparison as far as reliability goes, but so far... this bike is pretty darn bullet proof, which is very important to me.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,904
Likes: 9
From: Streetsboro, Oh
I have had to have the rocker box gaskets replaced and the clutch all by 14K, but the bike has never left me on the side of the road and has never failed to start. Over all I'm still happy with my HD and would buy another in a heart beat.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 29
From: Baytown Tx.
It amazes me that so many people think Harleys are still the same as they were in the 70's. It just goes to show, once something gets a bad reputation, it takes a long long time to overcome it. When a metric rider starts spouting off all that crap about Harley riders being broke down on the side of the road, Harleys being oil leakers, and this and that, I'm like dude, it's not 1976 anymore. I've been riding for ten years, which isn't long compared to some of you, but in that time I've seen just as many metrics broke down on the side of the road as Harleys. My Wide Glide does leak a little oil from the tranny seals, but it's 15 years old and has 73,000 miles on it. I've seen a few oil spots left by metrics of that age and mileage also. I love my Harley, and the only thing that sucks on it is the Carburator. 
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 496
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Ontario , Canada
I bought a 1999 1100 Honda Shadow Aero last summer with low millage on it . Thought I was getting a great bike at way less than what I'd have to pay for a Harley that style . It left me on the side of the road twice ! The nearest dealer is an hour and a half away and it cost me nearly a GRAND to get fixed . Dumped it and bought my 1995 Dyna that now has nearly 94'000 km on it and never have a problem . Plus the dealer is just 10 minutes down the road if I do need or want something . I'd expect that most of the metric guys who are always knocking Harley's are ***** whipped and not "allowed" to spend enough money on their bike's to get a Harley , so they knock them to make themselves feel better about not being able to own one .
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